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The potential cancer risk associated with using talcum powder has been the subject of many studies and much debate over the years. The issue is back in the news following three court decisions.

This week, a St. Louis jury awarded more than $70 million in damages to a California woman who said that she developed ovarian cancer from using manufacturer Johnson & Johnson's talc-powder products. Earlier this year, two other court cases involving a possible link between talc use and cancer resulted in the company being ordered to pay $55 million and $72 million in damages. Another 1,700 similar cases are reportedly pending nationwide.

Evidence showing that talc may be carcinogenic remains inconclusive. Talc, a mineral that contains elements of magnesium and silicon, is used in personal care products such as baby powder and makeup. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “cosmetic companies have a legal responsibility for the safety and labeling of their products and ingredients.” However, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cosmetic products are not required to undergo FDA approval before hitting store shelves.

Concerns about talc’s safety have been fueled by the fact that, in its natural state, it can contain asbestos — a known carcinogen.

“The link between talc and ovarian cancer is based on two facts,” says Philip Landrigan, MD, dean for global health and professor of preventive medicine and pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. “Much talc contains asbestos-like fibers; and asbestos has been determined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, to be a definite cause of ovarian cancer.” Dr. Landrigan was a member of the IARC Working Group that made this determination and published its findings in 2011.

In a study conducted between 2009 and 2010, the FDA found no traces of asbestos in any cosmetic products tested, including J&J's Baby Powder. But the FDA points out that the study was limited to 34 products, so the results themselves “do not prove that most or all talc or talc-containing cosmetic products … are likely to be free of asbestos contamination.” A list of the products tested is available on the FDA website.

Speculation that talcum powder may be associated with ovarian cancer dates back to the 1960s. Some researchers believe that talc applied to the genitals could reach the ovaries and trigger an inflammatory response — similar to the effect asbestos has in the lungs. According to a study published in 1999 in the International Journal of Cancer, avoidance of talc in genital hygiene might reduce the risk for ovarian cancer by at least 10 percent.

A 2010 analysis by the IARC found “limited evidence” that talc-based body powder could be carcinogenic to humans. While some of the studies reviewed found “a modest, but unusually consistent, excess in risk,” others “did not provide support for an association between talc use and ovarian cancer.” For that reason, the IARC classifies perineal, or genital, use of talc as “possibly carcinogenic.”

If you’re concerned about using products containing talc, then the best protection is to limit your exposure. As the American Cancer Society suggests, cornstarch-based cosmetic products may be a safe option since “there is no evidence at this time linking cornstarch powders with any form of cancer.”

Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health. See More

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